Soyoung Kwon

EHS Thanksgiving Food Drive

1. How did your community service work help the community?

Some people really overindulge with Thanksgiving while there are others starving in the city. Being a part of the food drive and also donating helps the community by giving the less fortunate a bit of a “real” Thanksgiving.

2. What were your initial reactions upon hearing that you would be engaging in a community service project?

Initially, I was a little annoyed that there would be out of school work for a zero credit class. After some thinking I realized that this shouldn’t even be considered “school work”. Giving back to the community should be something that is genuinely voluntary.

3. How did it make you feel to give your time and energy to others?

It felt satisfying to give back and know that someone truly appreciates the food that is being given to them by an anonymous person.

5. What stands out as the best and/ or most trying experiences that occurred while engaging in your community service project? What did you learn from these experiences?

I think the best experience that occurred while engaging in this project was just talking to the other people who also volunteered to collect food about their personal experiences and stories of people they know.
6. How did engaging in this project relate to your education and the larger issues in society?

It opened my eyes to the fact that the homeless people that I see everyday are friends and family members of other people and see poverty as pathology.

7. How did your community service experience relate to the “Leadership and Service” session?

N/A

Did not attend.

8. How has your community service experience changed your thinking, attitudes, and actions towards others, yourself, the community, and community service work as a whole?

Since I helped collect food and also donate food for the drive, I became more understanding of the people on the subways who collect food on a daily basis for the homeless and less fortunate. I have a new admiration for these people.
9. How has your community service experience impacted you personally? What is the most important thing you learned about yourself throughout this experience?

Participating in the food drive helped me take a step back and look at the larger picture of life; there is more to life than just school,work,family, and friends. I was reminded that taking care of your community is also very important. The most important thing I learned about myself from this experience was that I can help make someone’s day everyday.

10. Were you satisfied with your experience overall? Why or why not?

I wish I was able to be more active in the food drive, but it was an overall fulfilling experience.
11. do you see yourself staying involved in the community during your college and adult years? Why or why not?

I’d like to stay involved just because I feel as if change is really possible if more people get involved with giving back to the community.

I attended the Beyond Responsibility: The Role of Citizenship in 21st Century Business workshop. The purpose of this workshop was to present to the students and faculty the history of IBM. Also, the speaker Stanley S. Litlow discussed IBM’s business strategies coupled with saving energy and engaging in other organizations. Along with the company’s history, Mr. Litlow also spoke about the core values of the company and career in IBM as well. I found this workshop very informative because I got to know the history and how a big company such as IBM works and what they look for in employees.

I don’t like structure to these kinds of things, so I won’t write my answers under letters or numbers. First of all, my experience at Baruch hasn’t truly lived up to my expectations, but I don’t hate the school at all. I expected a school that was moderately tough(It didn’t disappoint in that aspect), but every class is simply boring to me. I hate how obnoxious and self absorbed and utterly insane a majority of my teachers are. I only really felt like one of the classes mattered. Granted, it wasn’t an easy class, but I really did enjoy it(props to you Albright, not many teachers can successfully teach damn near 500 kids and do it well). And I guess this provides a link to my first semester and how it is being in a blocked schedule. Sure, registering is a real pain in the ass but it provides the freedom we all crave. Art history was the biggest waste of time and if English 2100 is any indication of what English is at Baruch, we’re going to have a problem. Having said that, it  have been much worse. As far as grades go, I don’t feel I did all that bad…until November came by and crushed me with assignments and tests. What I’d do differently for my first semester, nothing really. Being in a blocked schedule, I did all I could. I can’t force myself to be interested, that isn’t me. Even if I could i simply wouldn’t. As far as change goes, I’m in the city a lot more now and I’ve become a bit of a caffeine addict. God bless Starbucks.

The workshop that I attended had the purpose to show the business of theater.  It was basically just a free flowing question and answer session that surprisingly wasn’t interrupted all that often with the panelists letting their egos shine through any of our concerns. It wasn’t all that bad considering the fact that the person next to me was just as engaged as I was. However, I noticed quite a few of the students at this panel were dressed quite nice while I was wearing jeans and a hoodie. A little overwhelming especially when I asked my question to which everyone looked at me like I was some sort of know-it-all snob with all too much taste for theater. All in all, wasn’t a total waste of time.

1) How did your community service work help the community?

– On the day of Thanksgiving I attended a community service event at the Adonai Christian Center, a church in Queens that my family attends regularly. The event entailed collecting, sorting and then distributing canned goods and food in general to those less fortunate in the community.

2) What were your initial reactions upon hearing that you would be engaging in a community service project?

– At first as with anything that requires me going out of my way to do something for others, I was hesitant and somewhat annoyed. However, the more I thought about how so many people could use a helping hand especially on a holiday the more I was convinced it was the right thing to do.

3) How did it make you feel to give your time and energy to others?

– It genuinely felt great to help out others. There is a very unique sense of satisfaction that comes with remembering that there are others who find themselves in difficult situations and helping them out.

4) What did you learn about yourself, the people around you, and the service site?

– I learned that perhaps I’m not as egocentric as I thought I was, that there are good, caring people everywhere around us and that even though I am not personally religious; churches offer good services in communities.

5) What stands out as the best/ or most trying experiences that occured while engaging
in your community service?

– The best experience was physically distributing food to those who needed it and feeling their warm gratitude.

6) How did engaging in this project relate to your education and the larger issues in society?

– I am considering pursuing a career in psychology; a career that involves helping individuals out and this was a small glimpse of the satisfaction that comes with helping others. It relates to larger issues in society being that we are currently living in turbulent economic situations and we should begin to consider those who suffer the most because of this.

7) How did your experience relate to the “Leadership and Service” session?

– I was able to see church leaders actively helping guide everyone to achieve something.

8 ) How has your community service experience changed your attitude, thinking, and
actions towards yourself, others, the community, and community service work as a whole?

– I spend the vast majority of my time thinking and doing things solely for myself and this helped me realize that there are others who have problems that are more important than mine and that it is necessary to help them out. I often forget that there are people in my own community who could really use a helping hand. I am definitely more open to being involved in community service in the future.

9) How has your community service experience impacted you personally? What is
the most important thing you learned about yourself through this experience?

– I learned that I can be a helpful and kind person when I really want to be.

10) Were you satisfied with your experience overall? Why or Why not?

– I was definitely satisfied with the experience; it made celebrating Thanksgiving with my family later on that much more meaningful.

11) Do you see yourself staying involved in community service
during your college and adult years? Why or Why not?

– I definitely see myself becoming more involved in community service in years to come. It feels good to know you are helping to make a difference in a community.

Sum up your service-learning experience in a one-two sentence headline.

– Remember that you are not alone in this world and kindly extend your hand to those who need it.

Q. Tell us how your experience at Baruch College has lived up to your expectations? Not lived up to them? Exceeded them?

A. I’m not disappointed but college hasn’t been the experience most people expect. That’s reasonable though. In a city college most people have other things going on, myself included.

Q. How well do you think your first semester at Baruch went?

A. To be honest, not very well at all. I will try harder, I have to.

Q. What would you do differently during your first semester if you could do it all again?

A. I had trouble just taking things seriously since none of my professors would hound me for assignments and I don’t really soicalize in school. My work deserved more attention and time.

Q. How have you changed since you started at baruch?

A. I started of the year with all of my preofessors liking me and doing well at work and now I can say that all of that is gone. I matured in a weird way because though I did slack off, now I know how terrible of a feeling I get from doing it. Sure the things I did instead of school work was cool at the time but looking back, not really worth the extra work now. Not to mention feeling crumby.

Julissa Mackey December 18, 2011
Freshman Seminar

The Importance of Community Service

What would this world be if we were all money-driven and incapable of giving? What would happen to the less fortunate, the blind, the meek? If we do not stop the cycle of selfishness within ourselves we can never stop the struggle of the helpless in our world.
New Yorkers feel the sting of the harsh winter’s cold everyday around the holidays. How many of them think of those have to go without that cup of Starbucks coffee and new warm coat and gloves.
There is an unlimited amount of things to be grateful for year-round, and the lucky folk should keep this feeling gratitude going by bringing it to the lives of others.
In this essay, I will shed some light on something that is more than a nice thing to add on to your resumé. Community service is what keeps humans humane and here’s how.
Doug George arrived in Biloxi, Mississippi on November 7, 2005. He had signed up to aid Katrina victims for five days “but quickly realized that even 500 days would not be enough.” Hurricane Katrina was a category 4 storm with the sixth-lowest atmospheric pressure on record. There were sustained winds gunning at 145 miles per hour and a atom surge of 20 – 30 feet.
George arrived to see the damage. Trees over one hundred feet tall laying over homes, flattening neighborhoods. Roofs had been stripped down leaving everything inside exposed to the terror of the storm.
In a reflection this good Samaritan posted on sound waves, a government web site that advocates volunteer work, he speaks of his encounter with a man named Tuli. Tuli is described as a man rendered homeless post-Katrina. Doug George met this man after he had been sleeping on his soggy mattress for two months. Tuli went back to his barren and ruined home after the disaster to retrieve what he could.
He was left to take only his bed which was then wrapped in plastic and tape to keep from harming himself, and wedding photos of his son and new daughter-in-law.
George states that “the human capacity to bear suffering was far greater than [he] had imagined.” The volunteer worked endless hours in horrifying conditions with little supplies and no monitory profit. So why would he go through such trouble and heart ache for some strangers in trouble? Doug George says, “…the moment a victim smiles in genuine appreciation as you stand with legs bloodied, shoulders aching, body caked in mud and soaked in sweat, nose raw from the rubbing of a face mask—that smile turns you around to swing the sledge for one more hour. I hope to see Tuli’s house a home again and return his smile.”
What volunteers did for Katrina victims will go down in history as one of the most heartwarming acts people could do for the city. However, there is no form of community service too small. Any help at all is significant to someone in a way we may never understand. Getting involved is up to us and we can be as creative and devoted as we choose. Whether it is signing up at soup kitchen, building homes, or even just donating clothing to your local donation center it is giving (not only time and labor) the less fortunate hope for a better tomorrow.
Sure, we would all rather be hanging out with our friends. Getting the motivation to help our community member can feel like a drag, but community service is a moral obligation for everyone, even celebrities, and we should all sacrifice some time to experience that sense of good at least once.
When I was younger I did not see the point of this righteous duty. Now that I have experienced living away from my parents, working and having to care for myself, I have a new perspective. I know and have witnessed how quickly and easily life can become overwhelming. Knowing that there are people out there that will help if things ever go poorly for me is a good feeling.

A) Tell us how your experience at Baruch College has lived up to your expectations? Not lived up to your expectations? exceeded your expectations?

– I expected nothing from Baruch College; my decision to attend it was very rash. I haven’t enjoyed my time at Baruch so far but I didn’t start the year expecting anything so I guess I’m not disappointed.

B) How well do you think your first semester at Baruch College went?

– Socially its been quite boring; this in part due to my lack of participation in school. Work wise its been an unforgiving reminder that I have to completely change my work ethic. All in all I could’ve done a lot better this semester.

C) What would you do differently during your first semester if you could do it all again?

– I would’ve treated my school related responsibilities with the importance they require. I would’ve studied on time and taken attendance seriously.

D) How have you changed since you started at Baruch College?
– To a certain extent I consider myself somewhat more responsible. If anything I am now more than fully aware of whats expected of me in college.

1) How did your community service work help the community?

–On October 14th and 15th my team and volunteered to help out in an Asian tournament at the school. We had to control the clock, concession stand, scores and books.

2) What were your initial reactions upon hearing that you would be engaging in a community service project?

-At first I didn’t want to do it because it was too early in the morning for me and I thought it would of been boring.

3) How did it make you feel to give your time and energy to others?

–It was okay. I didn’t feel any type of way because they weren’t less fortunate.

4) What did you learn about yourself, the people around you, and the service site?

-I learned that I was actually willing to help other people and that the other people around me were happy to be there and able to help out.

5) What stands out as the best/ or most trying experiences that occured while engaging
in your community service?

-The best part about  engaging in this community service is that I got to watch some exciting basketball games.

6) How did engaging in this project relate to your education and the larger issues in society?

-We were able to provide food to other people so it was like giving to those that were in need.

7) How did your experience relate to the “Leadership and Service” session?

8 ) How has your community service experience changed your attitude, thinking, and
actions towards yourself, others, the community, and community service work as a whole?

-This action of community service made me think about how it is important to help other people because they may be in need. There is also a reward in helping others and that is feeling good about yourself and what you did to help.

9) How has your community service experience impacted you personally? What is
the most important thing you learned about yourself through this experience?

-I learned that I am a patient person and I know how to be optimistic in certain situations.

10) Were you satisfied with your experience overall? Why or Why not?

-I was satisfied with this experience because it was actually fun and I was able to do it with my basketball team.

11) Do you see yourself staying involved in community service
during your college and adult years? Why or Why not?

-Yes I believe that I will stay involved in community service because my mother is involved in a lot of community service and I would like to follow her.

12) Sum up your service-learning experience in a one-two sentence headline.

Its better to give than to receive.

A) Tell us how your experience at Baruch College has lived up to your expectations? Not lived up to your expectations? exceeded your expectations?

-My experience has somewhat lived up to my expectations being that it is more work than it was in high school and that it what I expected.

B) How well do you think your first semester at Baruch College went?

–My first semester at Baruch was okay. I was keeping up with the work at first and sort of slacked off towards the end but I’m sure I’ll do better next semester being that  I know what to expect.

C) What would you do differently during your first semester if you could do it all again?

-I  would of taken my school work and academics more serious and work harder on assignments. I would of actually studied for certain things and not procrastinate.

 

D) How have you changed since you started at Baruch College?

-I’m probably more responsible and disciplined being that I have more things to worry about and responsibilities.